SM Nazmul Ahsan Sarup is the Manager of CSR at Epyllion Group. He started working for Epyllion Group as the Executive – HR, Admin and Compliance. Nazmul previously served as the Officer of Finance for Pacific Bangladesh Telecom Limited (City Cell) and the Officer of HRM for Palmal Group.
What is the status of CSR or SR in your organization?
Epyllion started CSR long ago. It formed Epyllion Foundation in 2011 with an aim to establish CSR with a formal approach. It focuses on the triple bottom-line of sustainable development. It sets plan and practice accordance with an aim to achieve sustainability in all aspects. Epyllion’s CSR for people starts from the organization itself; we connect to the society through our own employees. The target is to be an employee friendly organization encourages us to initiate and empower social beneficiary programs in broader community. Another significant focus point is the environment. We put our best efforts into sustaining continual improvements of our environmental management system which includes pollution prevention and the conservation of the natural environment. Our efforts and initiation in CSR has been recognized by national and international stakeholders. This year, we have achieved the 6th Standard Chartered Financial Express CSR Award. In the last two years, our collection of such recognitions showcases our raising the awareness for CSR.
At Epyllion Group you are conducting CSR in a very structured manner, would you please detail this methodology?
The CSR at the firm starts with adhering to the Code of Conduct of Epyllion Group. The objectives and expectations of Epyllion Foundation put significant emphasis on education, health and environment. In terms of COC and guidelines of the system certifications, we have implemented core principles of ISO 26000, the international standard for Social Responsibility and the 10 Principles of United Nations Global Compact. For CSR, we focus on sustainable programs focusing on our employees and environment as well as community involvement and development. Stakeholder interests are considered when planning and implementing a CSR program.
How do you define CSR in context of Bangladesh? How can CSR activities in the nation be improved?
In context of philanthropic CSR, Bangladesh is way ahead of others. From both, a religious and social context, Bangladesh has a long history of philanthropic activities. These activities included donations to different charitable organizations, the impoverished and religious institutions. Most of our business organizations, from large clusters to small ones, are undertaking a philanthropic causes without giving it the formal title of CSR. However, CSR is not only about the philanthropic agenda, it requires more of an established form with a sustainable approach. Now, Bangladeshi organizations are involving themselves further in strategic CSR with long term sustainability in mind.
In case of Bangladesh, the critical success factors are resource scarcity. Scarcity of natural resources, including natural gas, electricity, and water are crucial factors for us. We are opting for more energy efficient fixtures and system development to have effective consumption of natural resources.
“Our efforts and initiation in CSR has been recognized by national and international stakeholders. This year, we have achieved the 6th Standard Chartered Financial Express CSR Award.”
As human rights are also a part of CSR, how it can be incorporated in organizational set up?
Human rights are the most important factor of CSR. In order to uphold human rights in business, organizations should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights as a part of their COC and business principle. In Epyllion, we have recognized the significance of human rights and this is precisely why we are continuously adopting sustainable development business practices that uphold human rights within and beyond our business territory. These practices have been in line with our organizational core values and our vision to be the leader in the business domain and have a visible contribution to the GDP of Bangladesh. As one of the leading exporters in the RMG sector in Bangladesh, human rights is progressively more important for us. Sustaining effective corporate governance practices remain a key priority of Epyllion Group’s board of management. Corporate governance in Epyllion is dynamic and business-focused with rooted in a culture of transparency and accountability.
Epyllion Group is signatory to the UNGC from 2012 and practicing the guidelines of ISO 26000 from 2013 in its business management. Epyllion is practicing core issues and core principles of this standard that includes human rights issues as an integral part. It is embedded with the formal CSR policy and viewpoint of Epyllion Group.
